Commercial of the Week: ‘Ripple’ from Nike Golf, Starring Tiger and Rory

In honor of this week’s Masters Golf Tournament, here is Nike’s latest commercial.

The video shows TV clips of Tiger Woods in his prime, being watched closely by a young Irish toddler, Rory McIlroy, and his father. The commercial traces Rory from a toddler, through his teen years, to finally teeing off at a tournament with Tiger as his playing partner.

McIlroy has often mentioned that Tiger was his hero growing up. “To think that not too long ago I was that little boy watching him on TV to where I am now. It’s been a cool journey and I’m very lucky I get to compete with and against him, because he inspired me as a kid and he inspires me now. He’s the best player I’ve ever seen.”

The Wall Street Journal had a story in today’s paper about how much influence Tiger has had not only on McIlroy, but on a whole generation of golfers.

Tiger stressed the importance of fitness, as do many of the younger golfers on tour now. But perhaps Tiger’s greatest asset was always his mental toughness, and the young players now have the same attitude.

“It’s unique the way the mentality is now,” Koepka said. “I think Tiger’s changed that, the way he was so mentally focused and mentally driven. We all just aspired to be him, and I think that’s kind of more of what you’re seeing now.”

The result is that Tiger’s toughest opponents any more are all those who grew up watching him dominate golf and wanting to be just like him.